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(No ModeL) J. I. JOHNSON. SUSPBNDING DEVICE.

No. 483,615, Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JOHN I. JOHNSON, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDWARD MILLER & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SUSPENDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,615,-dated October 4, 1892. Application filed July 12, 1892. $e rial No. 440,064. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN I. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suspending Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of suspending devices in which an expansible ring is used to support a lamp or other article. It is intended to produce a ring simple, easily operated, and not liable to accidental derangement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective a ring embodying my invention in its closed or operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the ring, opened to its largest size. Figs. 3 and 4 are partial perspective views on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection through the locking portion of the device.

The same letters refer to like parts in the several views.

A designates a ring; 13 B, ears; C C, slots near the ends of the ring A; D, a guide-rivet; E, a thumb-piece or handle provided with a shank or pin e; F, a button; G G, H, and I, pins or studs adapted to coact with the button F.

In the example of my invention illustrated in the drawings the ring A may preferably be a resilient metal band with overlapping ends adapted when closed to surround a lamp or other article to be suspended immediately beneath a bead or projection on the lamp, said projection seating upon the upper edge of the closed ring, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Ears B B upon the ring A may be used to secure the ring to a harp or hanger. As shown, a shouldered rivet D plays in a longitudinal slot C, out through the ring A near its inner end. The function of the slot C and rivet D is to maintain the ring in a substantially circular form at all times and to limit its expansion. Near the outer end of the ring A is another longitudinal slot C, through which plays the shank or pin e of the thumbpiece or handle E. Upon this shank e is mounted the button F, free as to rotation on said shank. The ring A is maintained in its closed or operative position by the engagement of the button F with two pins or studs G G, projecting from the ring A in a vertical line on opposite sides and near the inner end of the slot C. Near the inner end of the slot C and in line therewith is the projecting pin or stud I. At one side of the slot C and a short distance beyond the pins G G is the pin or stud H. The functions of these pins H and I will appear in the explanation of the oper- 6o ation of the device. It will be noted that the operative portion of the button F is of the form of an elongated ellipse, or rather of the form of two convex wedges united at their butts. As shown, the button is formed with extending arms above the height of the pins G H I, and so as not to engage therewith.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from an examination of the drawings. To remove the lamp or othersuspended article, it is first raised somewhat to permit a slight contraction of the ring. The button F is then rotated on the shank e, so that it may pass between the pins G G. In practice the contraction of the ring A and the rotation of 7 5. the button F are both accomplished by a pressure of the operators finger on one of the projecting arms on the button F. The ring A then expands by its own resiliency and the lamp may be lowered through the ring. To reinsert the lamp, it is raised through the ring A, so that its largest diameter below the bead is above the ring. The operator then contracts the ring by taking hold of or pressing against the thumb-piece E. If the longitudinal axis of the button F happen to nearly coincide with that of the slot C, the button will pass between the.pins G G. Should this not be the case, the button F will be rotated on its axis by striking one of its ends against the pin H, so that, as before, the button will pass freely between the pins G G. As the button F reaches the inner end of the slot 0 its forward end strikes the pin I, by means of which the button is rotated, so that its longer 5 axis is substantially transverse to that of the slot C. The handle Ethen being released by the operator the ring A expands until one side of the button F strikes against both pins G G, securely locking the ring in its normal or ICO closed position. The lamp is then lowered, so that its bead or projection rests upon the 0 said slot, said button being upper edge of the ring A. The lamp below the bead is of such a size as to fill the ring, so that the slight reduction of diameter necessary to its unlocking cannot occur until the lamp is again raised. In this way accidental displacement of the lamp is avoided.

United States Patents Nos. 424,712 and 455,878 have heretofore been granted on my application. In both these patents means Were provided for preventing the accidental unlocking of the ring.

I do not of course claim herein anything described or shown in either of the ab0ve-named patents. I do not consider myself limited to the precise form of the device herein shown and described. It is obvious that I am entitled to the use of any'similar construction zvhich may fall within the scope of my inven- What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a suspending device, in combination, an expansible ring the ends of which overlap each other, a slot in the outer of said ends, a pin attached to the inner of said ends and passing through said slot, a button rotatably secured on said pin, and studs or projections on the outer of said ends, one on each side of adapted to pass between said studs and to engage with said studs to maintain said ring in its normal or closed position, substantially as described.

2. In a suspending device, in combination, an expansible ring the ends of which overlap each other, a slot in the outer of said ends, a pin attached to the inner of said ends and passing through said slot, a button rotatably secured on said pin, studs or projections on the outer of said ends, one on each side of said slot, said button being adapted to pass between said studs and to engage with said studs to maintain said ring in its normal or closed position, and a stud, as H, at one side of said slot, substantially as described.

3. In a suspending device, in combination, an expansibleiring the ends of which overlap each other, a slot in the outer of said ends, a pin attached to the inner of said ends and passing through said slot, a button rotatably secured on said pin, studs or projections on the outer of said ends, one on each side of Said slot, said button being adapted to pass between said studs and to engage with said studs to maintain said ring in its normal or closed position, and a stud, as I, substantially in line with and near the inner end of said slot, substantially as described.

- J OI-IN I. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. COOPER, A. F. SANBORN. 

